Getting extensions is a commitment. You invest in the hair itself and in the installation. Why would you not invest your time and energy into how you treat them once they’re installed? There are a lot of ways you can go wrong with the way you care for your extensions. Luckily, once you learn and get use to the right ways to do things it’s very easy to do a great job caring for your extensions. Here, I’ll let you know five of the worst things you can do to your extensions and teach you what you should be doing instead.

Mistake #1

Washing your hair too soon, too often, too vigorously, or not soon enough after exposure to salt or chlorine. EVEN YOUR TAP/SHOWER WATER CAN HAVE HIGH LEVELS, USE PURIFED WATER The minerals and deposits in tap water can cause the hair to be knotted, damaged, and will fail to retain their healthy characteristics.

Instead: Wait 48 hours after install, only wash twice a week, avoid bonds when washing, wash gently, and wash immediately after exposure to salt or chlorine.

When washing your extensions you need to take extra care to ensure you don’t damage the extensions or make the keritan bonds, beads, or tape slip. Always wait at least 48 hours after install to wash your hair. This allows time for the bonds to cure and become as strong as it needs to be to get the hold times you’re looking for. After those 48 hours, it’s still ideal to wash your hair no more than two times a week. This will help to increase your hold times and retain moisture. When washing, do not scrub the bonds, avoid them. Wash your hair gently by working shampoo into your scalp while avoiding the tape and then working the shampoo from the middle to the ends of your hair. When conditioning, skip the scalp and condition below the bonds. If you’ve exposed your hair to chlorine or the ocean, wash it immediately to ensure the chemicals or salt don’t have time to mess with the adhesive. Better still, wear a swim cap or avoid getting your hair wet when swimming.

Mistake #2

Using a towel improperly to dry your hair or drying your hair with heat.

With proper care, the hair on our heads is constantly rejuvenating itself. Our hair extensions don’t have the same abilities, meaning we need to take extra care of them to ensure they last as long as possible. Using heat to dry extensions removes excess moisture and causes the hair to become dry and brittle much faster. To dry your extensions, do not wrap your head in a towel and do not flip your hair upside down. You’ll also want to avoid squeezing or pulling your hair. Instead, use a towel to gently pat your hair dry from the bottom up and work with your fingers to gently reduce tangles and allow your hair to air dry.

Mistake #3

Brushing your hair like you did before extensions.

Instead: Use a wide toothed comb or Boar Hair brush, hold your hair just under the bond, and brush from the bottom up. NEVER DO THIS WITH WET HAIR SHOULD BE COMPLETELY DRY!

Brushing your hair like you did before extensions. When you have extensions you can’t just brush your hair the same way you have in the past. You need to take extra care to avoid pulling on the bonds. To brush your hair, make sure your hair is completely dry. Your hair is the weakest when it’s wet so pulling on it or pulling a brush through it can do the most damage when it’s wet. Suggest using a wide toothed comb or boar hair brush to brush your hair. Hold your hair just under the bonds to ensure that you’re not pulling on the them. Then, start brushing at the bottom of your hair and work your way up.

Mistake #4

Not protecting your extensions.

Instead: Protect them when swimming, sleeping, exercising, heat, and storing. See below to find out how.

Because your extensions can’t bounce back like the hair on your head, you need to take extra care to protect them beyond even what we’ve discussed so far. When swimming, a swim cap is your best option for protecting your extensions. When exercising, a higher ponytail will do the best job of protecting your hair from sweat and oils. When sleeping, a low braid or ponytail will protect your hair from excess friction. When your extensions are not on your head, protect them by storing them correctly. To store your extensions after they’re removed, gently wash, air dry and detangle them. Then, store them flat in an airtight container in which the extensions don’t need to be bent or crumpled.HEAT IS ONE OF YOUR HAIR'S BIGGEST ENEMIES! TRY TO USE A HEAT PROTECTIVE SPRAY or SERIUM PRIOR TO USING HEAT ON YOUR HAIR TO KEEP YOUR HAIR IN GREAT CONDITION. AND AVOID HEATING ONE SPOT FOR TOO LONG - IT WON'T MAKE THE CURL HOLD ANY LONGER OR BETTER!

Mistake #5

Leaving your extensions in longer than you should.

Instead: Always get adjustments within six weeks of install.

No extensions can last forever. As your hair grows, the bonds stays in the same place on the hair, meaning it slowly moves down from your scalp. By the time your extensions have been in for six weeks, the bonds start to breakdown, making it harder to remove. If they’ve stayed in for eight weeks or longer, the bonds can possibly no longer stay in your hair. With Tape-Ins this means that after you remove the extension the tape will be left in the hair and will take much longer to remove. If you’re thinking that leaving your extensions in longer will save you time or money, you are very wrong. In fact, it will most likely do the opposite. You will end up spending more time in the chair to fix the problem. That also means you’ll be paying your stylist extra money for all of the time they’re spending solving the problem while trying to keep your hair and extensions in good shape.

PARABEN, SULFATE, ALCOHOL FREE SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, or ANY STYLING PRODUCTS! Look for chemical names such as "methylparaben, propylparaben, any paraben" ingredients. These chemicals are synonymous with preservatives, they tend to dry out your hair.